Creative And Live

Jan Fabre is a contemporary belgian artist. He studied at the « Academy of Arts of Anvers » and then began to write plays. At the beginning of the 70’s he presents provocating actions and private « performances ». He is also a plastician and designs « mise-en-scene ».

The most important Jan Fabre’s piece of work is the covering of the ceiling of the hall of mirrors of the Brussel’s royal palace. The queen Paola had createed an artistic comity who had to integrate the belgian contemporary art in the royal palace which was built in the 19th century. Jan Fabre made a totally amazing work. He recovered the ceiling with 1,4 billion scarab’s carapaces. It reflects the light by giving different changing tons from green to blue. The confrontation of lightennings and mirrors gives a brilliant effect. Through this creation we can see that contemporary art and tradition can complete themselves.

The new exhibition of Jan Fabre in the « Musée du Louvre » called “The Angel of Metamorphosis” is in the same spirit. He invits us to rediscover the work of Jan van Eyck, Jérôme Bosch, Quentin Metsys, Rembrandt or Rubens. He tries to connect his universe with the themes related to the pieces of work like the death, the money, the madness… The exposition gathers about thirty pieces of work : sketches, sculptures, installations, videos and films. Some pieces are really perplexing and confusing. One of them spreads over about 30 meters. There are an among of graves on the flour. On these graves are engraved insect’s names and dates of well-known artists. On the center is laid an enormous red worm in rubber with the head of Jan Fabre. The red worm breathes and says understanding things. The result is totally perplexing and made me ill at ease.

Written by Romane